NEWS FROM EGYPT.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 April 1918, Page 7

NEWS FROM EGYPT.

FROM A TARANAKI BOY. Writing to Mr. T. Buihanan, of Wai.tara, one of the Urenu'i boys says:— Our October mails for some unexplained reason have been held up somewhere, as we should have received them last year. As ■ a matter of fact, we were surprised to yet them, thinking tliey had gone down to "Davy Jones' Locker." The baby contest was sure successful, and Urenui district did well'to head the poll. Clilf and 1 read with interest the accounts of the freezing works' ball and other Waitara functions that wera got up, and all evidently were well carried out.

Since writing iast you will have heard of our jrash in this part of tlie world, ending in tlie capture of the'Jaffa-Jeru-salem line. It was solid going while it lasted, particularly down Beersheba way, where the horses had a rough time owing to lack of water and being on "iron rations"—9lbs of oats for 24 hours and no tibben (chaff). For nearly two months we had to sleep in our clothes, only being allowed to carry one blanket, an oil sheet and ovarj coat. When we wanted a change we used to turn our shirts and trousers inside out, and wear them that way. Needless to say, "the pilgrims of the night", used to keep us busy at times ujitil we got a change of clothing, / The Turks made no error of cleaning out a town as tliey retire. When wn reached Jaffa, 95 per cent, of the houses were empty, and only 3 shops open, a restaurant, barber and chemist, and very few people about the streets. A few days after our having occupied the town the inhabitants start to come back with their household belongings packed on camels, donkeys or small carts. The population of this town in pre-war days was something like 30,000, but somewhat under that now, the Jews more especially having had a bad time from Jacko. At present (Feb. 7th.) we are having a spell, the first since the push started. Most of the time we were in the trenche3 it was raining. Old Jacko must have known who was there as lie shelled us good and hard, luckily with very few casualties. Cliff Tate had a narrow escape recently. One morning shortly after daylight lie hopped out of the trench and went a chain or so behind to get something, when a 5.9 H.E. shell lobbed over and landed 5 yards in front of him, the concussion knocking him over, but otherwise doing no damage. We made sure he was hit and were surprised to see him walking out of the smoke. He surely had a big heap of luck with that one. It was just at this particular place that we lost one of our most popular officers, Lieutenant C. Allison, of Manaia, whom I think you knew, a shell getting him and several others.

Just now we are in the middle of the rainy season, and it certainly can rain some here —30 inches in three months. It comes down good and hard when it starts. Up here there are thousands of acres of orange groves and vineyards, Jaffa oranges being world-famous. The price here is 2s per hundred, just the price of a dozen in New Zealand. The oranges are now ripe and make a very welcome addition to our daily fare. The grapes do not ripen until mid-summer (July). by our camp is a Jewish Colony and the Jewish maidens come round selling honey, cakes and oranges, collecting washing shirts for a shilling) or exchange for other things such as soap, sugar, tea or cocoa. Sugar up this way is 10s per lb, and soap unobtainable for civilians. Many other ordinary household necessities are equally expensive and as scree. Captain J. B. Hine will probably be in New Zealand by the time this reaches you. He got a bad smack. I enclose a card with flowers ou it from Jerusalem, and am posting two wooden paper weights made from Olive wood from the Mount.

Nearly forgot to mention here that one sees native women working on the roads. They carry the broken metal in baskets on their heads, and can also be seen napping stones on the side of the road. They are big hefty wenches. Tom MeEldowney is sitting beside me at present and sends his regards. It is raining hard to-day. Must teil you about .a joke we now have on. After receipt of his last package from home he threw the wrapping away as usual in the rubbish heap. This heap the native women "rat" every morning looking for scraps of bread or anything else that might be useful. A few mornings ago one of the "bints" came round and sewn.on "a particular spot" of her harem trousers was 's parcel wrapping ■with his name and address on it